Porcelain veneers recreate a tooth’s natural look, ensuring strength and resilience similar to a tooth’s enamel. Normally a material used for small alterations, porcelain can mimic and change a tooth’s size, shape and color.

How Do Porcelain Veneers Work?

Porcelain laminate veneers are comprised of several ceramic layers. These thin layers replace a tooth’s original enamel surface, bound by an adhesive layer. A small part of the original tooth enamel must be removed first, before a veneer is applied. Normally, the removed space is less than a millimeter large. Because the space is so small, the veneer can accurately restore the tooth’s natural function without being intrusive.

When are Porcelain Veneers Used?

Porcelain veneers are great options when one’s original tooth has developed poor shape, color and contours. They’re also useful for repairing fractured teeth and closing teeth gaps. In some situations, a compromised tooth can be fixed with a porcelain veneer. A dentist can additionally use a porcelain veneer to remedy small bite problems.

Porcelain veneers are also useful for assisting discolored or stained teeth. Some people don’t respond well to bleaching or whitening, requiring veneer maintenance to achieve an original look.

Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

Because veneers are individually crafted for every patient, they’re nearly identical to a tooth’s original surface. In most cases, they’re indistinguishable. Unlike a natural tooth’s surface, porcelain veneer material can resist tea and coffee stains. It can also resist cigarette smoke stains.

Porcelain veneers keep one’s natural teeth intact, only altering a small surface area to fit the mold. Similarly, they’re beneficial to those who have minor tooth overlaps, twists and gaps. Today, porcelain veneers are leading options for dark tooth color restoration.

Keeping Your Veneers Looking Fresh and New

Once a veneer is installed, it should be maintained regularly. Fortunately, porcelain veneer maintenance is quite simple. Routine flossing and brushing, alone, can maintain a veneer surface. Once a porcelain veneer is placed, its long-lasting material doesn’t require much effort to maintain.